Modular containment and screening system

Abstract

A construction method and apparatus used to form a surround, container or other structure. Posts have slots into which walls, which may be planks or made up of planks, are inserted and retained. Numerous posts may be used with numerous walls therebetween to form many and varied structures. The finished structure is modular, because the posts and walls are not damaged when the walls mount in the slots. Therefore, if more or fewer posts and/or walls are desired later, one need merely disassemble the structure and add the components desired to the existing structure. The walls may have fittings that attach to the inserted ends that cooperate with structures in the slots formed in the posts so the walls are held from being removed from the slots except along the length of the slots.

1 . A modular construction system comprising:
 (a) an elongated first post having at least a longitudinal first slot formed in a side, the first slot defined by slot sidewalls spaced apart a first slot width, and a pair of ridges extending toward one another from the slot sidewalls and terminating in ridge tips forming a first ridge gap, wherein the first slot width is greater than the first ridge gap;   (b) an elongated second post spaced from the first post a predetermined distance, the second post having at least a longitudinal second slot formed in a side, the second slot defined by slot sidewalls spaced apart a second slot width, and a pair of ridges extending toward one another from the slot sidewalls and terminating in ridge tips forming a second ridge gap, wherein the second slot width is greater than the second ridge gap;   (c) a first wall with a length about equal to the predetermined distance and a first end with:
 (i) a first leg portion no wider than the first ridge gap extending into the first slot between the ridge tips of the first slot; and 
 (ii) a first foot portion no narrower than the first ridge gap extending deeper into the first slot than the first leg portion; and 
   (d) the first wall having a second, opposite end with:
 (i) a second leg portion no wider than the second ridge gap extending into the second slot between the ridge tips of the second slot; 
 (ii) a second foot portion no narrower than the second ridge gap extending deeper into the second slot than the second leg portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The construction system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first foot portion mounts integrally to the first leg portion and the second foot portion mounts integrally to the second leg portion. 
     
     
         3 . The construction system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first foot portion removably mounts to the first leg portion and the second foot portion removably mounts to the second leg portion. 
     
     
         4 . The construction system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (a) an elongated third post spaced from the first and second posts having at least a longitudinal third slot formed in a side, the third slot defined by slot sidewalls spaced apart a third slot width, and a pair of ridges extending toward one another from the slot sidewalls and terminating in ridge tips forming a third ridge gap, wherein the third slot width is greater than the third ridge gap;   (c) a longitudinal fourth slot formed in a second side of the first post, the fourth slot defined by slot sidewalls spaced apart a fourth slot width, and a pair of ridges extending toward one another from the slot sidewalls and terminating in ridge tips forming a fourth ridge gap, wherein the fourth slot width is greater than the fourth ridge gap;   (c) a second wall, which is transverse to the first wall, having a third end with:
 (i) a third leg portion no wider than the third ridge gap extending into the third slot between the ridge tips of the third slot; and 
 (ii) a third foot portion no narrower than the third ridge gap extending deeper into the third slot than the third leg portion; and 
   (d) the second wall having a fourth, opposite end with:
 (i) a fourth leg portion no wider than the fourth ridge gap extending into the fourth slot between the ridge tips of the fourth slot; and 
 (ii) a fourth foot portion no narrower than the fourth ridge gap extending deeper into the fourth slot than the fourth leg portion. 
   
     
     
         5 . The construction system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first wall is made of at least first and second substantially parallel and co-planar planks, the first plank having a first groove formed in a lateral edge and the second plank having a second groove formed in a lateral edge that is adjacent the first groove, and further comprising a stiffener with members inserted in the first and second grooves. 
     
     
         6 . A modular construction system comprising:
 (a) an elongated first post having at least first and second longitudinal slots;   (b) an elongated second post spaced from the first post, the second post having at least third and fourth longitudinal slots;   (c) an elongated third post spaced from the first and second posts, the third post having at least fifth and sixth longitudinal slots;   (d) an elongated fourth post spaced from the first, second and third posts, the fourth post having at least seventh and eighth longitudinal slots;   (e) a first wall with a first end extending into the second slot, and a second, opposite end extending into the third slot;   (f) a second wall with a first end extending into the fourth slot, and a second, opposite end extending into the fifth slot;   (g) a third wall with a first end extending into the sixth slot, and a second, opposite end extending into the seventh slot; and   (h) a fourth wall with a first end extending into the eighth slot, and a second, opposite end extending into the first slot.   
     
     
         7 . The construction system in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising a foraminous grid extending from attachment to at least one of the walls. 
     
     
         8 . The construction system in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising a foraminous grid extending from attachment to at least one of the posts. 
     
     
         9 . The construction system in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the first wall is made of at least first and second substantially parallel and co-planar planks, the first plank having a first groove formed in a lateral edge and the second plank having a second groove formed in a lateral edge that is adjacent the first groove, and further comprising a stiffener with members inserted in the first and second grooves. 
     
     
         10 . A construction method comprising:
 (a) spacing an elongated first post from an elongated second post with a gap therebetween, wherein:
 (i) the first post has at least a longitudinal first slot formed in a side, the first slot defined by slot sidewalls spaced apart a first slot width, and a pair of ridges extending toward one another from the slot sidewalls and terminating in ridge tips forming a first ridge gap, wherein the first slot width is greater than the first ridge gap; and 
 (ii) the second post has at least a longitudinal second slot formed in a side, the second slot defined by slot sidewalls spaced apart a second slot width, and a pair of ridges extending toward one another from the slot sidewalls and terminating in ridge tips forming a second ridge gap, wherein the second slot width is greater than the second ridge gap; 
   (b) extending a first end of a first wall into the first slot, the first end having a first leg portion, which is no wider than the first ridge gap, that is disposed between the ridge tips of the first slot, and a first foot portion, which is no narrower than the first ridge gap, that extends deeper into the first slot than the first leg portion;   (c) extending a second, opposite end of the first wall into the second slot, the second end having a second leg portion, which is no wider than the second ridge gap, that is disposed between the ridge tips of the second slot, and a second foot portion, which is no narrower than the second ridge gap, that extends deeper into the second slot than the second leg portion; and   (d) displacing the first and second ends of the first wall lengthwise along the first and second slots, respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , further comprising the step of mounting the first and second foot portions to the first and second ends, respectively, of the first wall.